Disorderly Conduct in Highlands County, Florida
110 cases (2023-2025) · Highlands County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
From 2023 to 2025, disorderly conduct in Highlands County resulted in guilty verdicts in 80.9% of the 110 cases, with 12.7% resulting in adjudication withheld. The dismissal rate (4.5%) significantly exceeds the statewide average of 2.3%, suggesting Highlands prosecutors are more selective in pursuing these cases or judges more readily dismiss weak charges. The withheld rate (12.7%) falls well below the statewide average of 25.1%, indicating Highlands judges favor formal convictions when guilt is established. Notably, no diversion programs were used despite statewide availability at 7.7%.
Defendants convicted face light sentences consistent with disorderly conduct severity: a median of 47.5 days and average of 48.1 days among confined cases. Probation is minimal at 183 days average. Jail confinement occurs in 34.5% of cases; fines average $138.18. Nearly half of defendants (46.4%) rely on public defenders. The combination of higher dismissal rates and lighter sentences suggests Highlands prosecutors pursue only stronger cases and judges impose proportionate sanctions.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Figures cover 110 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Disorderly Conduct charge in Highlands County makes it in front of a judge. Of 60 prosecutor decisions on Disorderly Conduct charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 23.3% — below the 34.1% statewide rate. These decisions happen early in a case, before trial.
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney case data (2023-2025). Rates are per charge, not per defendant — a dropped charge often reflects a plea agreement on another charge in the same case, not the case going away. Percentages are of charges receiving a prosecution decision; transfers between courts are excluded. Court outcome data on this page is a separate dataset covering cases that reached disposition. Statewide charging patterns: The Florida Prosecution Report.
Outcome Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 80.9% of 110 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 110 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2023-2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 38 | 1.6 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Disorderly Conduct sentencing in Highlands County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Disorderly Conduct in Highlands County?
The guilty rate is 80.9% based on 110 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Disorderly Conduct in Highlands County?
Adjudication is withheld in 12.7% of cases (2023-2025). This is a Florida-specific outcome where the court finds guilt but does not formally convict, allowing the defendant to avoid a conviction record under FL Statute 948.01.
What is the average sentence for Disorderly Conduct in Highlands County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 1.6 months, with an average fine of $138 (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
46.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 3.6% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2023-2025)
Demographic data reflects systemic patterns in the criminal justice system and should not be used to draw conclusions about any racial or ethnic group. Disparities may reflect differences in policing, prosecution, and socioeconomic factors rather than actual crime rates.
| Race | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 80 | 80.0% | 6.2% |
| Black | 29 | 82.8% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 52 | 80.8% | 0.0% | 1.9 months |
| 2024 | 33 | 72.7% | 12.1% | 1.5 months |
| 2025 | 25 | 92.0% | 4.0% | 28 days |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 107 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 3 |
Related Charges in Highlands County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 762 | 63.8% | 1.7% |
| Drug Possession | 572 | 89.3% | 0.7% |
| Other | 331 | 76.7% | 7.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 256 | 85.5% | 1.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 204 | 87.3% | 2.5% |
| Battery | 246 | 80.9% | 3.3% |
| Trespassing | 135 | 87.4% | 3.0% |
| Fraud | 96 | 76.0% | 0.0% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Disorderly Conduct in Highlands County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 110 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/disorderly-conduct/highlands
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Highlands County. "Guilty" includes all cases where the defendant was found guilty. "Adjudication withheld" is a Florida-specific disposition where guilt is found but the court withholds formal adjudication under FL Statute 948.01. "Dismissed" includes all cases dismissed by the court or prosecution.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 110 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com